Kigali is scheduled to host the high-level Eastern Africa Standby Brigade (EASBRIG) meetings from 20 – 29 this month.

According to Military Spokesman, Major Jill Rutaremara, the,  meetings are expected to assemble Chiefs of Defense Forces and Ministers of Defense from ten African countries.

"Three separate but interrelated meetings will discuss among other things, the Eastern Africa Standby Brigade progress report,” said Major Rutaremara.

There will also be a meeting of EASBRIG defense experts from August 20 – 23 followed by Policy organs meetings from August 24 – 29.

The meetings are also expected to bring together the Chiefs of Defense Forces [August 24 – 26] and Ministers of Defense/Security [August 27 – 29].

The ten countries are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.

Rutaremara further explained that the meetings will also talk about several issues which will include force logistics, development or generation and the concept of civilian dimensions [Civilians and Police] of the Africa Standby Force [ASF].

Also included are the command, control, communication, computer and information systems [CIS] concept as well as the EASBRIG structure under a harmonized policy framework and its cost implications, Rutaremara revealed.

"The Chiefs of Defense Forces usually discuss the report and proposals by the Defense experts while the Council of Ministers of Defense or Security discusses and adopts the final report for possible consideration by the Summit of the Heads-of-State and Government of EASBRIG member states,” said Rutaremara.

"The Policy Organs’ meetings will take place at Serena Hotel while the meeting of Experts will take place at Hotel La Palisse,” he added.

Rutaremara explained that the programmes and activities of EASBRIG are coordinated by EASBRIG Coordination Mechanism [EASBRICOM] with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The forthcoming events come after five Defense liaison officers of the East African Community (EAC) met in Kigali recently and emphasized the importance of defense cooperation in realizing the bloc’s realistic integration.

The group of five; one from each partner state, were in the country to conduct a sensitization program on the status of defense cooperation in the country.

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